Ecohydrology

SSP&A has applied expertise in groundwater, surface water, and environmental science to improve understanding of processes at the interface between ecology and hydrology. SSP&A's contributions to this interdisciplinary field focus on groundwater conditions and groundwater-surface water exchanges in groundwater-dependent riverine and riparian environments.

SSP&A's echohydrology services include:

Development of customized groundwater/surface water models for riparian areas, including temporally and spatially variable river footprints incorporating a wide range of in-channel flows or overbank flow conditions;

Evaluation of the likelihood of proposed restoration hydrographs at points of release to meet downstream flow targets and related riparian hydrologic goals;

Assessment of the sustainability of groundwater-dependent wetland hydrology under altered channel conditions, river operations or altered land/water use in surrounding areas;

Evaluation of the viability of instream flow targets given the dynamic nature of stream gains/losses under various land/water use or alternate climate scenarios; and,

Design and implementation of field programs to support analysis of hydrologic conditions in riparian areas.

SSP&A has provided these services to support collaborative environmental programs among federal, state and local water management agencies; to address hydrologic questions associated with the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act; and, to assess water supply alternatives or riparian habitat improvements involving modified river operations.

Featured Projects

Evaluation of Channel Re-Alignment Alternatives on Shallow Groundwater and Wetlands

As part of a feasibility study relating to channel alignment along the Rio Grande, SSP&A fine-tuned and applied a high-resolution riparian groundwater model to characterize alternative groundwater and wetland conditions under a range of seasonal and flow conditions.

Gila River Riparian Groundwater Model

New Mexico

SSP&A conducted a comprehensive study of hydrologic conditions in the riparian corridor of the Gila River to support water use and ecosystem decisions under the Arizona Water Settlement Act. This reach of the Gila River is unique in the West in that it remains largely unregulated, and while low flows are typical, flood flows ranging above 10,000 cfs are not uncommon.

Rio Grande High-Resolution Riparian Groundwater Models

New Mexico

SSP&A developed a suite of groundwater models for the shallow riparian groundwater environment along the Rio Grande to support analysis of restoration options and river conveyance efficiency. This project was conducted to support the Endangered Species Act Collaborative Program for the Middle Rio Grande, with goals related to fisheries, wetlands and interstate stream compact obligations.

San Joaquin Near-River Groundwater Models

California

On behalf of stakeholders with interest in the San Joaquin River, SSP&A was retained to develop a groundwater model to be integrated with existing HEC surface-water models along a 150-mile stretch of the San Joaquin River, from Friant Dam to the Merced River. This groundwater model was to be used as a tool to identify how much surface flow is needed to sustain desired hydrologic conditions in the riparian zone. To model the riparian groundwater zone of the San Joaquin River, SSP&A developed a technical approach that integrated regional groundwater conditions, surface-water model components, and a detailed lithologic profile of the shallow near-river zone.